Another Project

This project should have been done at the beginning of summer not the end.  But, don't you like that but in sentences.  It always mean there is a excuse in my case.  The only excuse I can use is possibly too many irons in the fire.  Or it could be SM, yep, that's my new diagnoses!  Scatter Matter, in other words unorganized and flying by the seat of my pants.

I wanted a new seating area on the back patio.  So I had group my wicker furniture together to create a space for visiting.  That is I had any company to visit with. Some of you may recall this before picture.

I didn't like the chair brown and of course the rug was way too little.  So I got out my handy cans of paint and went to town.  Even the natural pine porch rockers got some much needed paint.

So this is what I ended up with.

Everything is white with the cushions and rug adding color. I'm really happy with the white.  Now the problem is I may only have a couple of weeks to enjoy it before it need to be put away for the rains.  Maybe next years project will be to build a cover.  Or again I may just move!!

I can use this as a coffee table or pull it over to my chair for a foot stool.  I have been spending some afternoons and evenings out there knitting.  It gets late afternoon shade so it is quite pleasant.

So do you still have summer project not completed?  I won't even begin to tell you how many didn't get done this year.

So I'm off to work and this evening canning pears!

Enjoy June

Summer Ending

It seem once Labor Day weekend is here all thoughts turn to Fall.  I know our evenings are getting cooler. I could almost call it cold.  But I still need sun and warmth! My tomatoes in my garden need to ripen. I was able to get one small Canner done.  It was suppose to be seven pints but darn, one of the jars broke so only six.

I have a lot of pears on the counter ripening. I hope by this weekend I can get them canned. I also have apples in the garage that will be applesauce soon. Since there is only me in my household I use pints for most of my canning.  I figure if I have more for a meal I can always open more.

As summer is winding down I am trying to finish up a few more projects.  My garden shed is one that is finally done.  Well, I can always tweak a few things but the painting of the door, trim and hanging shutters is done.

                                                        Here is the shed before!

Drum roll, Please!

Here it is after.  One big, huge problem.  The dead grass!  I tried and tried to keep it green but after daily watering and hundreds of dollars to the water company it didn't work.  It is either save my pennies for an in ground sprinkler system and new lawn or move! The soil in the back yard is horrible.  I wanted to rota til it up and add good top soil and replant.  But the people before me put in an instant lawn and the entire back yard has this green plastic mess under the grass.  So I have to have a company come in and scoop all the grass and mesh off.  $$$$  May just move!!

I'm still hanging onto what is left of summer and praying for an Indian Summer.  I'm a sunshine gal and not looking forward to winter., burr - don't even think about it. Do you still have summer projects still needing to be completed?.  I know I still do!! 

Enjoy June

Mini Vaca cont.

We spent one day sightseeing out toward Pudget Sound. We traveled west to what is called Deception Pass which allows us to cross over to Whidbey Island.  It is the inlet to Skagit Bay.  I think I already told you I'm in love with Skagit Valley.

The picture is a little hazy but do you see that bridge which we are about to go over. Boy! what some views!

This is looking out to the Sound from up top of the passage. It was gorgeous!

This was a huge boat or yacht coming into the passage.  Too bad you can't see the size.

I know it is hard to see but can you see all those boats below fishing.  Hopefully they caught a few.

These are the boats that were fishing and yes, we were clear up there. What an awesome area!

My brother in law and I were walking the shore looking for agates and pretty rocks.  Oh yes, Jazi was help too!

My sister and BIL enjoying the lovely weather and watching boats come and go.  Notice Mr. Zorro in the lower corner, Jazi's buddy.

We moved on to the picnic area which was out on the shoreline of the Sound.  We enjoyed home canned tuna sandwiches which was so much better than any greasy fried food.  Yep, that's me watching more boats.

This is our view from our picnic table.  Now who couldn't sit here and take in this view.

I think I could have spent the whole day there just watching boats.  But we finally pulled ourselves away and were on to our next venture.

Can you say I had fun, oh YES!

Enjoy June

MINI VACATION

Did you know returning from 4 wonderful, fun packed days off is hard? I return late last night from a wonderful trip with my sister and BIL.  The main reason for this little excursion was our niece's best friend's wedding. So we hooked up the trailer and off we went to Northwest Washington.  The Skagit Valley area to be exact. Wow, is all I can say as to how beautiful it was.  But first you will need to indulge me with a few wedding photos since this was the main purpose of the trip.

It wasn't,  "Going to the chapel and gonna get married" Yes, I know that is dating me with those lyrics.  It was more like going 3 miles up a gravel road into the mountains. We broke out into a clearing of Moon Mountain Lodge.  A very rustic setting it was.  We had to fire up the generator for power to the guest house where the bride and bridesmaids got ready for the big events.  My sister and I had volunteered to help decorate, food or what ever the brides mother wants us to do.

Our first task was to put pictures on old window frames.  First we had to secure the frames on the clothesline.  It became apparent my sister and I weren't very trusting of the weight and light weight wire they used to hang the windows.  We could just see disaster waiting to happen, which almost happen as one window came crashing down.  Thank goodness for my sisters quick reaction and saved the day or window as it was.

It was very difficult to get a picture since it was VERY rustic, weeds and all.  So we tried it at an angle.

I think you get the idea.  They wanted old insulators as vases so my sister macrame a jute basket while I held on to them.  Can you see why we were concerned about weight.

We added sweet peas for the final touch.  The pictures were secured with magnets on both sides of the glass. One project done.  Now we move onto the arbor.  We just added a bit of burlap so it wasn't so stark white and blended more into the rustic,

A cute window with their initials and it was done.

Of course I'm not showing all the last minute pinning the bridesmaids under garments out of site.  Wouldn't it be nice if young gals understood you make the dress and you impress on them to wear the bra you plan on wearing the day of the wedding for the final fitting. My sister made three of the four dresses.

It is time for the wedding!

Our sweet bride and groom as they say their I do's!

Our niece made the wedding cake.  She said that the bride wanted a naked red velvet cake.  Now do any of you know what a naked cake is.  In my mind I was thinking a total frosted smooth cake with absolutely no decorating on it.  No waves, swirls, dots and no cake topper.  I was wrong!  A naked cake is just that, NAKED.  No frosting what so ever on the outside.  Our niece is a little bit of a perfectionist and not being able to frost the cake was very stressful to her.  We had to remind her if the bride wanted a perfect cake we wouldn't  be up here in this rustic mountain site.  I personally think the cake turned out perfect! 

Our niece freehand the tandem bike out of white chocolate and put their initials for the front spokes, another request of the bride. 

I have several more of the special day and may save them for a latter post.  But I must not forget

The reason we were there! Our niece and the bride!

Next post will be; we did play tourist while on our mini vaca!

Enjoy June

MORNING DRIVE

I am very fortunate that my drive to work everyday is a pleasant drive.  No freeways, not a lot of traffic, just me and the country road.  But once in a while I get something fun to watch.

This time of the year our area seem to be in the hot air balloon path.  One morning there was five of them as I was driving.  They were pretty far off in the distant so I couldn't get any pictures.  Going up in a hot air balloon is something that is on my bucket list. I think it would be so peaceful.

I lost site of it as I was driving and then the next thing I know when I cleared the filbert orchard.

It had landed and the chase vehicle was right there.  I know they keep in contact with the ground crew but they were fast.  I wonder if with the flight you have to help pack of the balloon after you land?

It still was a pretty sight for my morning drive. What kind of morning drive do you have?  I tell myself I am not counting the days until retirement but it is 2 years, 11 month and 3 weeks.  Yes, under three years now, but who's counting!!

Enjoy June

JUNKING I WILL GO!

A weekend at home and to do what I love.  First it is that lovely cup of coffee out on the swing with the beautiful sunrise.  Then I'm awake and excited to go to one of my favorite junk sales.  You see last month I had to miss the mother load of junk sales The Barn House Boys up in Battleground, WA.  So I wasn't going to miss Molly Mo's in Sublimity, OR.  This sale is held at her home in the backyard.  It is a lovely setting and all the vendor are a delight.  Now the sad part, I was so excited looking, ahhing, visiting, touching, and buying that I forgot to take pictures while there.  Where oh where is my head?

There was some lovely things but as my budget was telling me I would have to rob a bank before I could indulge.  But I did find a few treasures.

 So what am I doing with my finds?  The little shutter will soon be painted and hug on the garden shed. I can't wait for I've been looking for them this summer.

 Who can't use an old rake, I'm thinking hanging it on outside of the house by the BBQ so I can hang my BBQ tools.  Maybe then I will be able to keep track of them.  The old hay hook is just because. I have no plans but just nostalgia from growing up on a farm.

Isn't this the cutest child's apron.  I couldn't resist!

 

I am such a sucker for embroidery work.  I even tried it on and it almost fits, okay hips shrink a little!

Okay, now what am I going to do with a green metal tackle box?  I certainly don't know but it will end up in my little trailer for future camping.  It may get a redo eventually.  Now my favorite!

I

Isn't this the cutest little white enamelware coffee pot? This will also go in my trailer for those time when I'm camping without electricity.  I am an early riser when camping and now I can make coffee anytime.  I had to try it out last night and made a pot of decaf.  I didn't want to be up all night.  It was perfect.   Now all I need is another camping trip! 

Enjoy your week for I sure will!

June

Where Have I been?

Really I am still kicking but you know I am busy when I have to admit I have too many irons in the fire!  Hum, wonder where that phrase came from? 

You see for the past two weekends I have been out of town. It all started with camping with my son and family while attending a County Music Jamboree.  Way too many headliner to mention them all but, Rascal Flatts, Chris Young and Derks Bentley were just a few.   Great music, great camping and great family. 

Then I squeezed in hosting a jewelry parting, plus I was watering a friends garden for the week while she was on vacation. 

Then the biggie!!  It's been planning, set up and cooking for our 45th High School Reunion.  Yes, there are 4 of us life long friend who do this every five year.  Are we crazy?  Yes, maybe, but we do have fun and we had a great turn out. Plus while back in hometown I tried to squeeze in the County Fair.  I didn't do too well on this but I did watch grand kids so the adult kids could attend.  Can I say it was the wee hours when they got home.  So does lack of sleep come to mind but great fun.

Then it was helping a special friend with her Daughter's outdoor wedding reception.  Can I tell you I am in bare feet by now.  Way too much on the feet for the class reunion the day before.  Another event that was work but so much fun.  It was all done in vintage, straw bales and sunflowers.  Just perfect!

Did I mention breakfast out with friends, company staying with me, and of course tending and harvesting my garden.

Now I'm sure you are all wondering where pictures are?  I have many of the class reunion but I won't bore you with them.  I was so busy with wedding reception that I didn't even get my camera out.  Yes, I'm sad about this but there were many a camera clicking away.  So hopefully I'll get a copy or two.

So I'm leaving this post today to say life is short so enjoy every second even if you totally exhaust yourself.

I have this saying hanging on my bulletin board at work.

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming,  "Wow God! What a ride!"

Enjoy June